The Minister of State with special responsibility for Immigration and Integration has said the Government will not proceed to regularise the position of undocumented migrants living in Ireland.
David Stanton made the remarks in response to a report published by the Oireachtas Justice Committee on immigration, asylum and the refugee crisis.
The report was published earlier this year, and was discussed in the Dáil this evening.
Justice Committee Chairman Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin said if Ireland wanted to assist our undocumented in the US, we should extend the same welcome to the undocumented in our midst.
The report recommends that people spend no longer than is necessary in direct provision.
Mr Ó Caoláin said: "The denial of the right to seek paid employment is a serious infringement of the applicant’s human rights."
He added: "Ireland should significantly increase its intake of asylum seekers, this will require greater funding for Tusla and other agencies.
"It is imperative that Ireland do its upmost to help refugees fleeing conflict around the world."
Mr Stanton said the report endorses a position to regularise the position of the undocumented in Ireland.
"A general regularisation scheme for persons residing here illegally is not under consideration," he said.
However, he said the report has been examined to see what measures could be advanced.
He said any approach to regularise the circumstances of illegal immigrants "would have to focus on those who had entered into the state for some lawful purpose but who had fallen out of emigration policies or because they felt they had no alternative."
He added: "Those who came to the state with the intention of staying here illegally would have a less sound basis for having their cases considered sympathetically."
